Data management framework for policy management

ABSTRACT

A data management framework for a data communications network. The framework includes a dynamically constructed model of elements of the data communications network. The elements are represented as object instances that are self-descriptive. The model provides a uniform application programming interface that allows a client to dynamically access the elements and dynamically add new elements in performing network management functions. The data management framework may be used for policy management.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/246,264 filed on Nov. 6, 2000, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This application relates generally to network management frameworks, and more particularly to a data management framework that provides a meta-model for expressing a network and relationships between entities in the model in a dynamic manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Policy management is the application of abstract policies to control the services provided by a network switch. Policy is the association of conditions and actions, based on the attributes of the switch, that enforce certain behaviors in the switch, resulting in a specific service.

[0004] Because of the complexity and ranges of values for switching attributes to enforce specific services, the switching attributes need to be organized in a form that can be effectively supported on the network elements involved in the delivery of the services. Although network management system (NMS) solutions exist in the prior art which could be used for policy management, these solutions are undesirable because they generally map their concept of a network into statistically constructed virtual information stores, referred to as managed information bases (MIB). This mapping is often accomplished either through translators that translate an input of some modeling language such as, for example, ASN.1 (Abstract Syntax Notation One), or by hand coding all statistically typed model elements, data, and behavior.

[0005] Existing network management architectures therefore do not employ dynamic loading of element definitions and runtime interrogation of types, nor do they generally use descriptive meta-data information to elicit specific behaviors and configuration of network modeling based on typing information. Furthermore, current architectures usually bind network management to typing the entire framework with respect to protocol, allowing the framework and model to represent, for example, ATM but not IP, carrier voice but not data, and IP/ATM enterprise but not carrier ATM/frame relay.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a network management framework that provides a meta-model for expressing a network and relationships between entities in the model in a dynamic matter. The network management framework should allow data representations and behavior, topology relationships, and application services including policy management services, to be dynamically assembled into a manageable model of a network without restrictions as to typing, size, growth, and/or performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a data management framework for a data communications network including a client and a server in communication with the client. The server provides a dynamically constructed model of elements of the data communications network. The model provides a uniform programming interface for allowing the client to dynamically access the elements and dynamically add new elements in performing network management functions.

[0008] In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a data management framework for a data communications network where the data management framework includes an application service providing application functions for the network, a modeling tool for creating a dynamic model of elements associated with the application service, and a uniform programming interface providing dynamic access to the elements for performing network management functions.

[0009] In a further embodiment, the present invention is directed to a data management framework for policy management where the data management framework includes a dynamically constructed model of a plurality of policy-related elements. The model provides a uniform programming interface for allowing dynamic access of the policy-related elements and dynamic addition of new policy-related elements in performing network management functions.

[0010] In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method for data management in a data communications network. The method includes the steps of providing an application service for the network, creating a dynamic model of elements associated with the application service, and providing a uniform programming interface for providing dynamic access to the elements for performing network management functions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood when considered with respect to the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of various layers of a data management framework used for dynamically creating a network information model according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of various components and modules of the data management framework of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the invention; and

[0014]FIG. 3 is an exemplary object oriented diagram of a model context according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of various layers of a data management framework used for dynamically creating a network information model according to one embodiment of the invention. Although the layers of the framework illustrated in FIG. 1 are described in terms of various software layers and/or components, a person skilled in the art should recognize that one or more layers of the framework may also be implemented in middleware.

[0016] The various layers of the data management framework preferably include a sessions layer 10, application services layer 20, information models layer 30, support services layer 40, and a platform layer 50. The sessions layer 10 preferably provides connection for software systems and/or human users (collectively referred to as clients) for accessing the application services, information models, and/or support services provided by respectively the application services layer 20, information models layer 30, and/or support services layer 40. Preferably, a connection is established via public application programming interfaces (APIs) implemented via CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture), RMI (Remote Method Indication), or other remote interfaces and transport protocols that are conventional in the art. Once a connection is established, a session is preferably created. Sessions preferably control security and user access, log transactions, maintain connection attributes, assist in fault recovery, and the like.

[0017] The application services layer 20 includes services that provide application feature functionality, such as, for example, policy management. According to one embodiment of the invention, application services may be dynamically added and associated with features of the network information model as well as to other services provided by the framework.

[0018] The information models layer 30 includes information models used to create the data models associated with the application services. Such information models may include conventional models such as, for example, Common Information Model (CIM), Managed Information Base (MIB), or the like. The information models are preferably containers of object instances that collectively model the information and behavior of real entities in a real world management system, such as, for example, a policy management system.

[0019] The support services layer 40 provides support technologies for implementing software functionality and operating system services for the data management framework. Support services include protocol stacks, databases, world wide web, graphics, transactions, fault detection/handling, resource management, and/or the like.

[0020] The platform layer 50 preferably includes a software operating system and associated hardware for executing the application services in the application services layer 20, including policy management. Preferably, the software operating system is implemented in the JAVA programming language.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the various components and modules of the data management framework according to one embodiment of the invention. The data management framework is preferably provided by a server 102 in communication with a client 100. The client 100 preferably includes connections from external software to the server 102 via the sessions layer 10. Such connections include graphic user interfaces (GUIs) 104, web connections 106, other application/management systems 108, and the like.

[0022] The server 102 preferably provides the sessions layer 10, application services layer 20, information models layer 30, and support services layer 40 of FIG. 1. The server 102 may reside in one processor/computer system or in multiple processors/computer systems. Furthermore, within the context of a single computer, the server 102 may include one or more Java Virtual Machines.

[0023] The server 102 preferably provides various controllers 110, 112, 114 within the session layer 10 where each controller controls a connection to the client 100. The controllers may control user access, user profile, transaction auditing, and the like.

[0024] The server 102 further provides one or more application services in the application services layer 20 such as, for example, a policy service 115 and other services 117 conventional in a data communication network. The elements of each application service are preferably represented as object instances that are self-descriptive. The object instances are referred to as managed objects (MOs) 120, 121.

[0025] A software bus 132, 134 allows the interconnecting of various MOs to each other and to the corresponding application service. The software bus may be implemented, for example, using the InfoBus technology developed by Lotus.

[0026] Each MO is preferably an object instance implemented using object oriented programming techniques that includes a definition (class), name, attributes, and relationships with one or more other MOs. The relationship between one more other MOs is referred to as an association. Associations may be named/identified, and include conditions, constraints, and other forms or attributes describing a relationship between the MOs. In the example of policy management, the MOs preferably model different policies, actions, conditions, network elements, directory servers, and other policy driven equipment and software in a network.

[0027] The MOs associated with a particular application service belong to a data model 116, 118 constructed using the information models in the information models layer 30. Each data model 116, 118 provides context, or containing environment, in which the MOs reside and interact within software systems and external systems. The data models are also referred to as a model contexts.

[0028] Each model context has an application specific functionality and service. Each model context allows control and interaction over the objects inside the container. Any new model context that is introduced or started may discover other model contexts and enlarge the features of the network. Model contexts advertise existence of the contents, publish attributes and behavior, and control access. In this regard, each model context provides a uniform API to the client 100 for interacting with the model context in a dynamic manner. The network to framework path may therefore be described in a dynamic fashion, without static language restrictions or stoppage of processing.

[0029] Preferably, each model context exports behavior as a combination of the context's public API, the context's name service, the API of the application services and any attributes or behaviors of the MOs publicly exported. A context has the ability to advertise its attributes, actions and services as well as those of its children. Once advertised, other components may make use of the advertised information.

[0030] Each model context 116, 118 that makes up the network information model may run stand-alone or in collaboration with other model contexts. Thus, the entire network information model may be made up of individual models that are distributed, providing scalability and availability to the network management solution.

[0031] The application services encompassed by the model contexts 116, 118 preferably utilize the support services in the support services layer 40 in performing their functions. The support services preferably implement the functionality shared by one or more application service. For policy management, the support services may include lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) databases 122, SNMP 124, database management services 126, error handling 128, and other services 130 such as, for example, auto-discovery, and the like.

[0032]FIG. 3 is an exemplary object oriented diagram of a model context according to one embodiment of the invention. According to one embodiment of the invention, the model context and its associated components and classes are implemented based on the BeanContext API created by Sun Microsystems, Inc. BeanContext is a pattern which provides a uniform API to access and use a hierarchy of container classes and their children.

[0033] A particular model context preferably includes a base class referred to as a model context class 140. The model context class preferably provides default attributes, behavior, and associations for a model context. Model contexts include one or more application services 142, such as, for example, a policy service 144 having a public API 150 and a policy databus 152. A policy model context 146 is derived from the model context class 140. The policy context 146 is associated with the context's public API 148.

[0034] Model contexts contain information and behavior represented by MOs. MOs preferably include a base class referred to as a managed object entity (MOE) class 154 and a managed object implementation (MOI) class 156. The MOE class 154 preferably provides default attributes, behavior, and associations for an MO. The MOI class 156 preferably describes how an MO is implemented. For example, the MOI class 156 defines the interface and attributes used to describe the services offered by the MO, or the characteristics of the element represented by the MO. A policy MO 158 is preferably derived from the MOI class.

[0035] An MO may be created and reside in only one model context. The MO may have associations with other MOs residing in the same or different model context. An MO is preferably made public outside the context via a naming service or an application service using the application service's API.

[0036] An association class 160 preferably expresses a relationship between two or more MOs. The association class 160 preferably includes attributes that describe the qualification, constraints, rules of an association between two or more MOs, allowing other components and tools to operate based on this information.

[0037] Although this invention has been described in certain specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will have no difficulty devising variations which in no way depart from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Thus, the present embodiments of the invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention to be indicated by the appended claims and their equivalents rather than the foregoing description. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A data management framework for a data communications network including a client and a server in communication with the client, characterized in that the server provides a dynamically constructed model of elements of the data communications network, the model providing a uniform programming interface for allowing the client to dynamically access the elements and dynamically add new elements in performing network management functions.
 2. The data management framework of claim 1, wherein the model is constructed using object oriented programming techniques.
 3. The data management framework of claim 2, wherein each element is represented as an object instance that is self-descriptive.
 4. The data management framework of claim 1, wherein the model is associated with an application service provided by the data communications network.
 5. The data management framework of claim 4, wherein the application service is a policy management service.
 6. A data management framework for a data communications network, the data management framework comprising: an application service providing application functions for the network; a modeling tool for creating a dynamic model of elements associated with the application service; and a uniform programming interface providing dynamic access to the elements for performing network management functions.
 7. The data management framework of claim 6, wherein the application service is a policy management service.
 8. The data management framework of claim 6, wherein the model is created using object oriented programming techniques.
 9. The data management framework of claim 8, wherein each element is represented as an object instance that is self-descriptive.
 10. The data management framework of claim 6, wherein the uniform programming interface allows the dynamic addition of elements into the model.
 11. The data management framework of claim 6, wherein the uniform programming interface allows the dynamic addition of a new application service for being represented by a model.
 12. A data management framework for policy management, the data management framework including a dynamically constructed model of a plurality of policy-related elements, the model providing a uniform programming interface for allowing dynamic access of the policy-related elements and dynamic addition of new policy-related elements in performing network management functions.
 13. The data management framework of claim 12, wherein the model is constructed using object oriented programming techniques.
 14. The data management framework of claim 13, wherein each policy-related element is represented as an object instance that is self-descriptive.
 15. A method for data management in a data communications network, the method comprising the steps of: providing an application service for the network; creating a dynamic model of elements associated with the application service; and providing a uniform programming interface for providing dynamic access to the elements for performing network management functions.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the application service is a policy management service.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of creating the model comprises the step of utilizing object oriented programming techniques.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of creating the model comprises the step of creating an object instance representing each element of the model.
 19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of dynamically adding new elements into the model.
 20. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of dynamically adding a new application service for being represented by a new data model. 